Alejandro Toledo grew up shining shoes in a slum, earned a Stanford University graduate degree and a World Bank job, and five years ago became Peru's first democratically elected president of Indian descent. His presidency ends Friday with Peru's economy looking its best in decades. Yet his poll numbers reflect the depth of Peru's social divide and Toledo's failure to deliver on his promises to better the lot of the poor. Things could be worse for 60-year-old Toledo. His approval rating has rebounded from 10 percent six months ago to more than 30 percent, enough to prompt hints from him that he may seek the presidency again when he becomes eligible for re-election in 2011. "That is the difference between having been a good president, as I think he will be considered in the future, and the great president he could have been," says Gustavo Gorriti, a writer who was a key Toledo campaign adviser but later became a harsh critic.

President Alejandro Toledo of Peru was a language instructor for the Peace Corps in the 1960's. In 2002, Toledo invited the Peace Corps to return to Peru after a 27 year absence.

Caption: Peru's First Lady Eliane Karp raises her arm while Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo looks on during a ceremony in this July 28, 2004, file photo. Alejandro Toledo grew up shining shoes in a slum, earned a Stanford University graduate degree and a World Bank job, and five years ago became Peru's first democratically elected president of Indian descent. His presidency ends Friday with Peru's economy looking its best in decades. (AP Photo/Martin Herrera, El Trome, FIle ) NO PUBLICAR EN PERU

LIMA, Peru - Alejandro Toledo grew up shining shoes in a slum, earned a Stanford University graduate degree and a World Bank job, and five years ago became Peru's first democratically elected president of Indian descent. His presidency ends Friday with Peru's economy looking its best in decades.

Yet his poll numbers reflect the depth of Peru's social divide and Toledo's failure to deliver on his promises to better the lot of the poor.

Things could be worse for 60-year-old Toledo. His approval rating has rebounded from 10 percent six months ago to more than 30 percent, enough to prompt hints from him that he may seek the presidency again when he becomes eligible for re-election in 2011.

But the jump is attributed largely to upper- and middle-class Peruvians who have benefited from his economic policies, and to a feeling that the two men who qualified for the June runoff to succeed him looked even worse.

"Toledo," pollster Luis Benavente said, "is ending his term without an economic crisis and with macroeconomic successes, an export boom, solid GDP growth, a trade deal with the United States and institutional stability."

Peru's economy has grown by 20 percent since 2001 — 6.5 percent last year alone — with inflation totaling just 10 percent during that time. Toledo boasted during the election battle that "for the first time in 60 years, the campaign has not revolved around a debate on how to resolve the economic crisis."

But unemployment has remained high — reliable figures aren't available — because growth came largely in sectors like mining that generate few jobs.

Some experts say Toledo's poll numbers got better when the choice for his successor came down to a runoff between two candidates many revile — Alan Garcia, who drove Peru's economy into ruin during his 1985-90 presidency, and Ollanta Humala, a radical nationalist.

Garcia won, but generated little of the optimism that had washed over Peru when Toledo took office after a decade of autocratic rule under corruption-tainted Alberto Fujimori.

Toledo led massive street protests against Fujimori, the poor initially seeing him as one of their own, and he began his administration with approval ratings near 60 percent.

But that support quickly evaporated as Toledo became dogged by scandal, including investigations of close aides and siblings involving charges of influence-peddling and nepotism. One nephew was found guilty of rape. Toledo's outspoken Belgian wife warred with the news media.

With his penchant for designer suits, $150 bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue Label scotch and weekend getaways to a beach resort, Toledo was accused of leading a profligate lifestyle in a nation beset by poverty.

His wife was criticized for taking expensive trips abroad, and Toledo for awarding himself Latin America's highest presidential salary. Under intense public pressure he cut it from $18,000 a month to $12,000.

Perhaps what hurt him most was his attempt to avoid recognizing a daughter who had been born out of wedlock.

His support plunged to single digits two years ago amid calls for his ouster.

Opinion polls showed Peruvians viewed him as an inept leader who lied when he promised to create 2.5 million jobs if elected.

In recent months those harsh views have begun to fade, although opinion surveys show most Peruvians are glad to see Toledo leaving office, especially the poor, who feel they have not benefited from Peru's economic growth.

"He created a lot of hopes with his promises of jobs, but let us down when he didn't keep them. He treated the government as if it were his estate and benefited his whole family," said Robert Verastegui, 37, an out-of-work machinery operator. "People are happy to see him going."

In an interview with a Lima television station, Toledo, the son of impoverished migrants from the Andean highlands, said there was another reason.

"There is a silent, hidden racism in Peru. Many people find it hard to digest that there is a president in the Government Palace of this ethnic makeup," said Toledo, who is short and dark-skinned with chiseled Indian features.

Gustavo Gorriti, a writer who was a key Toledo campaign adviser but later became a harsh critic, thinks such explanations gloss over the frustrations felt toward a president who was expected to be a moral compass after Fujimori's corrupt regime.

"That is the difference between having been a good president, as I think he will be considered in the future, and the great president he could have been," Gorriti said.

Wed, Jul 26 12:11:05 PM 2006

When this story was posted in July 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Bush nominates RPCV Ron Tschetter to head PCPresident Bush has nominated Ron Tschetter to serve as Director of the Peace Corps. Tschetter, 64, is the president of D.A. Davidson & Co., an employee-owned investment firm based in Montana who first got involved with the Peace Corps in 1966, when he volunteered with his wife to work as family planning advisers in India. He is a former Chairman of the National Peace Corps Association.

PCOL Comment: Congratulations to the Bush administration for an inspired choice for Peace Corps Director. Ron Tschetter is not only an RPCV but was Chairman of the NPCA. Best wishes to Mr. Tschetter on his future tenure as Director of the Peace Corps.

Changing the Face of HungerIn his new book, Former Congressman Tony Hall (RPCV Thailand) says humanitarian aid is the most potent weapon the United States can deploy against terrorism. An evangelical Christian, he is a big believer in faith-based organizations in the fight against hunger. Members of Congress have recently recommended that Hall be appointed special envoy to Sudan to focus on ending the genocide in Darfur.

PC will not return to East Timor in 2006Volunteers serving in East Timor have safely left the country as a result of the recent civil unrest and government instability. Latest: The Peace Corps has informed us that at this time, the Peace Corps has no plans to re-enter the country in 2006. The Peace Corps recently sent a letter offering eligible volunteers the opportunity to reinstate their service in another country.

Chris Dodd considers run for the White HouseSenator Chris Dodd plans to spend the next six to eight months raising money and reaching out to Democrats around the country to gauge his viability as a candidate. Just how far Dodd can go depends largely on his ability to reach Democrats looking for an alternative to Hillary Clinton. PCOL Comment: Dodd served as a Volunteer in the Dominican Republic and has been one of the strongest supporters of the Peace Corps in Congress.

Vasquez testifies before Senate CommitteeDirector Vasquez testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on his nomination as the new Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture replacing Tony Hall. He has been the third longest serving Peace Corps Director after Loret Ruppe Miller and Sargent Shriver. PCOL Comment: Read our thanks to Director Vasquez for his service to the Peace Corps.

Interview with a Hit ManRPCV John Perkins says that for many years he was an "economic hit man" in the world of international finance whose primary job was to convince less developed countries to accept multibillion dollar loans for infrastructure projects that left the recipient countries wallowing in debt and highly vulnerable to outside political and commercial interests. In this exclusive interview for "Peace Corps Online," Colombia RPCV Joanne Roll, author of Remember with Honor, talks to Perkins about his Peace Corps service, his relation with the NSA, "colonization" in Ecuador, the consequences of his work, why he decided to speak out, and what his hopes are for change.

Peace Corps stonewalls on FOIA requestThe Ashland Daily Tidings reports that Peace Corps has blocked their request for information on the Volkart case. "After the Tidings requested information pertaining to why Volkart was denied the position — on March 2 — the newspaper received a letter from the Peace Corps FOIA officer stating the requested information was protected under an exemption of the act." The Dayton Daily News had similar problems with FOIA requests for their award winning series on Volunteer Safety and Security.

PCOL readership increases 100%Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

History of the Peace CorpsPCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace CorpsTimothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case.

Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in dangerWhen the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

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Story Source: AP

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Peru; Politics

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